Mercedes-Benz Reveals 2026 S-Class Facelift

At the celebration of Mercedes-Benz, wraps have come off the mid-lifecycle update for W223 S Class, and there is big news is huge infusion of next-gen tech, as well as upgraded powertrains ready for Euro 7 emissions norms. Mercedes is the industry-leading flagship limousine, which has also provided the cosmetic tweaks – some subtle, others less so – and a wider array of personalisation potential with the brand’s manufacturing catalogue.

The biggest update has made the skin, but the interface is plain for watching as soon as you swing a door open. The gone is flowing, wood-panelled dashboard with the vertical touchscreen at the centre, and in place a gloss black panel with three screens, which is a superscreen, in Mercedes terms. The 12.3-inch driver and front passenger displays are where you had expected, highlights are the 14.4-inch central touchscreen, which is the heart and brain of the car.

The newest generation of brand MBUX digital architecture, dubbed MB OS, has made its way to the S-Class, having previously appeared in the smaller CLA and GLB. The Mercedes calls it a ‘supercomputer’ and more than just your infotainment unit, this unifies the functions of the car – right from headlights, to cameras, the powertrain and suspension. This also incorporates a lot of AI and cloud computing to power its digital assistant, Google Maps-based navigation and V2X functions. The S-Class is now a software-defined vehicle (SDV) that gets functional updates over the air.

As mentioned above, the screens have replaced the conventional dashboard, giving the car a far more tech-heavy look. There are still two 13.1-inch rear entertainment touchscreens in the back of each front seat, although the rear controller tablet got replaced by the two smaller individual touch controllers, akin to personal smartphones.